Trip Planning for Lionhead Range

View Weather and Avalanche Log
24 Hour Snowfall and Wind
as of 5:00 am
Today3″ | 10-46 NW
Dec 3 6″ | 10-56 NW
Dec 2 6″ | 10-41 W
Lionhead Wind
9420′     12/04 at 13:00
27.0℉
NW - 7mph
Gusts 21 mph
Madison Plateau SNOTEL
7750′     12/04 at 12:00
31℉
21″ Depth
Bottom Line: Signs of dangerous avalanche conditions include a snowboarder triggered avalanche in Lionhead, a natural slide outside Cooke City and skiers getting whumping and cracking as they tour. New snow and wind-loading have created instability. Avalanches, cracks and collapses warn us to not enter avalanche terrain. Carry avalanche rescue gear (beacon, shovel, probe) and make sure your gear and skills are in working order.
Primary Problem: Wind-Drifted Snow

Past 5 Days

Thu Nov 23

None
Fri Nov 24

None
Fri Dec 1

None
Sun Dec 3

None
Today

None

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Lionhead Range
Lionhead Ridge
Splitboarder triggered avalanche at lionhead
Lionhead Ridge
SS-ARu-R2-D2-O
Elevation: 9,000
Aspect: NE
Coordinates: 44.7145, -111.3180
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Was splitboarding up near lions head ridge today. Made some bad decisions and kicked off a good slide in a NE facing chute. Was with 2 buddies, 1 of which skied the line 3 weeks ago.  Underneath about a foot of new powder snow there was a firm crust that seemed like it was old  hard windslab in the gut of the chute, and I think a sun crust on the riders left side(East aspect). We had 2 spots where we were planning to re group at, first was a small cubby area right before a slight rollover about 75 ft from the top. I dropped first, made some turns down toward the pulloff, as I pulled in, I triggered a good size slab that propagated maybe 40-50 ft across, at the rollover as I carved into the pulloff.  Pulled  all snow  out of the chute down to the ground. Seemed to have failed on sugary facets on ground/ice crust close to the ground... 


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 5
  • Whumphs at Lionhead

    From IG: “Skied in the lions head today on a northeast slope at 8,300 feet. Clear wind loading and reactive cornices, however storm snow was low energy with little movement. 10-14 inches of medium density snow. Whumpfing was noticed on all slopes on the eastern half of the compass.”

  • Avalanches at Pine Creek

    From IG: “Pine creek today, some small wind slabs and a full depth wet slide off black mountain”

  • Avalanche at Pine Creek

    From IG: “Pine creek today (10/21), some small wind slabs and a full depth wet slide off black mountain”

  • Avalanche on Mt. Blackmore, hyalite

    From obs. "Was out alpine climbing today and observed the north face of Blackmore had slid already."

  • Powder Blast 2023

    Get your tickets and online bid for items HERE!

Videos- Lionhead Range

WebCams


Raynolds Pass

Rendezvous Ski Trail, W. Yellowstone

Snowpit Profiles- Lionhead Range

 

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Weather Stations- Lionhead Range

Big Sky

Weather Forecast Lionhead Range

Full Forecast, NOAA website
Extended Forecast for

10 Miles WNW West Yellowstone MT

  • This
    Afternoon

    This Afternoon: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. West wind 14 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

    Mostly Cloudy

    High: 27 °F

  • Tonight

    Tonight: A 50 percent chance of snow, mainly after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Southwest wind 15 to 18 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Chance Snow

    Low: 24 °F

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. South southwest wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Chance Snow

    High: 27 °F

  • Tuesday
    Night

    Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. South southwest wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

    Mostly Cloudy

    Low: 23 °F

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of snow after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 32. South wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

    Slight Chance
    Snow

    High: 32 °F

  • Wednesday
    Night

    Wednesday Night: Snow. Low around 21. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

    Snow and
    Breezy

    Low: 21 °F

  • Thursday

    Thursday: Snow. High near 24. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

    Snow and
    Breezy

    High: 24 °F

  • Thursday
    Night

    Thursday Night: Snow. Cloudy, with a low around 14. South southwest wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

    Snow

    Low: 14 °F

  • Friday

    Friday: Snow. Cloudy, with a high near 16.

    Snow

    High: 16 °F

The Last Word

We travel with a lot of electronics that could interfere with our avalanche transceiver, both as a victim and as a rescuer. Check out our article on Electronic Warfare to learn what to do.

12 / 3 / 23  <<  
 
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